Autopsy concludes Oklahoma inmate died from lethal drugs during execution

Oklahoma – The Oklahoma inmate whose execution was stopped due to complications during the process, died as a result of the lethal drugs he had already been administered, according to an autopsy. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the autopsy reveals the cause of death; however, it did not indicate a reason why the inmate writhed, moaned and clenched his teeth prior to his death.

Department of Corrections Director Robert Patton previously attributed the death of Clayton Lockett to a heart attack purported to have occurred 10 minutes after the execution was halted.

Dale Baich of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Phoenix, who was commissioned by a group of Oklahoma death row prisoners seeking an independent autopsy of Lockett, is quoted as saying of the results in a statement, “What this initial autopsy report does not appear to answer is what went wrong during Mr. Lockett’s execution.”

Gov. Mary Fallin has ordered a review of the circumstances of the execution. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has agreed that executions will not be scheduled for six months.